Box toe heater



March, 1942. R. H. LOWE Box TOE HEATERv F'iledOCt. 21, 1959 PatentedMar. 3, 1942 ir s BOX TOE HEATER Ross H. Lowe, Hanover, Pa., assignor toThe Hanover Shoe, Inc., Hanover, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication October 21, 1939, Serial No. 300,636

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a box toe heater.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple means for heatingand steaming the stiffener used in making box toes on shoes.

'Ihe purpose is to provide means for confining the steam or vaporemployed in the operation within certain limited area beyond the toe ofthe last, as the desideratum is to prevent the moisture from the steamor vapor from reaching the exterior of the upper or passing beyond thesurface required to be heated.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a form of machine showing a last andupper in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View showing parts in full and parts indotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the upper end of themachine, showing the toe and stiifener in dotted lines; and

Fig. 5 shows a slightly modified form of the shield with the steam orvapor vents on the forward side instead of on the upper surface of theshield.

The numeral I represents a tank of suitable size and proportions mountedon a standard 2 adapted to be supported on the oor.

An adjustable rest 3 for the shoe is pivotally attached on oppositesides of the upper end of the tank as a convenient means of support.This rest may be moved to dierent positions to support the shoe and lastto suit the convenience of the operator.

The upper 4 is shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and supported onthe rest 3. The upper is drawn more or less tightly over the last 5, andpreferably temporarily fastened by one or two tacks at the heel (notshown) in the customary manner.

A shield 6 extends upwardly from the inverted U-shaped pipe 1, and thisis preferably bowed outwardly at the center as shown in the drawing tocorrespond with the curvature of the shield 6, which latter is made toapproximately conform to the shape of the toe of the last.

Perforations 8 are formed at suitable intervals in the bowed portion ofthe pipe 1, through which the steam or vapor issues upwardly, asindicated by the arrows in Fig. 4 directly against the underside of thebox toe stiffener 9, and the toe-piece I0 of the upper which extendsthereabove.

'I'he pipe 'I is preferably removable from the tank through holes IIV inthe top of the tank One or more holes I2 on the lower side of the pipe'I are provided for the escape of condensation. Y'

As a slight modification the perforations 8 might be in the forward sideof the shield 6 as viewed in Fig. 5, it being understood that the objectis to concentrate the application of heat so far as possible to the areasubstantially represented by the space I4 forward of the shield B andbeneath the projecting forward end of the stiffener and toe-piece asillustrated.

The shield 6 virtually has the function yof a. valve for insuring thisconfinement and concentration to the surface desired and preventing itfrom going elsewhere.

For this reason the shield is so placed that it extends between thecanvas lining I5 and the stiifener 9, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

If steam is used, it is supplied through the pipe I6, whereas ifv vaporis preferred, it is supplied through the pipe Il, in which event it ispassed through a body of water in the lower end of the tank, and thenceinto the upper portion of the tank and out through the perforations 8.

When steam is employed, the condensation passes out through pipe I 1,and when vapor is used the level of the water is determined by the pipeI6 which serves to maintain the water level.

It has been found by this simple mechanism the steam or vapor iseffectually confined to the intended surface, and the arrangement ofparts is such that the process is carried out with facility.

After the steaming and heating has been completed, the toe-piece andstiffener are drawn down around and beneath the toe of the last 5 andtemporarily fastened usually by a toe wire (not shown).

It will be apparent that the projecting end of the stiifener andtoe-piece virtually forms a hood, which in cooperation wtih the shieldreceives, arrests, and disperses the steam or vapor beneath vthepredetermined surface intended to be heated and softened.

I claim:

1. A box toe heater including a steam or vapor tank, a pipecommunicating with said tank and having perforations on its uppersurface, and an approximately vertical shield connected with the pipe inposition to confine the discharged steam. or vapor to a predeterminedarea to be heated.

2. In a box toe heater the combination of a steam or vapor tank, meansfor supplying steam or vapor thereto, an inverted U-shaped pipedetachably connected to said tank and communicating therewith, aperturesin the upper side of said inverted U-shaped pipe, and a shield securedtol one side of said inverted U-shaped pipe directing steam or vaporfrom the apertures in a predetermined direction.

ROSS H. vLOWE.

